14 Excellent Habits That Will Give You Radiant Skin

Honestly, who doesn’t want radiant looking skin? There are endless products on the market claiming to keep skin looking young and fresh, and they range from lotions and moisturizers to face masks and exfoliators. Skin is the largest organ of the body, and it protects you from the elements, helps to regulate your body temperature, and permits the sensation of touch. It has a natural ability to regenerate, but the truth is, it is often neglected. To keep your skin healthy and glowing, here are 14 easy tips to follow:

1. Regularly exfoliate your entire body. Use a sugar scrub and exfoliating glove or a loofah when you’re in the shower, and rub it over your skin in a circular motion to remove dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling smooth and radiant. Here’s a detailed how-to.

2. Moisturize your skin every day with a moisturizing cream or lotion. You shouldn’t go a day without drinking water, right? Moisturizing gives your skin the proper hydration it needs to look healthy.

3. Always wash your facebefore bed to remove oil and bacteria from your pores. If you go to bed with makeup on, or lay down with a face full of oil and bacteria, your skin can be greatly affected, because your face is one of the most sensitive parts of the body in terms of your skin.

4. Use sunscreen! Ultraviolet radiation is the main cause of early wrinkles, age spots and even skin cancer. I know you’re excited to be at the beach, but your future self will thank you if you take care of your skin properly now!

5. Drink plenty of water. Without water, your skin can appear dull, and wrinkles and pores become more prominent. When the skin is hydrated, it remains plump and elastic, and it’s less likely to crack and let in dirt that can cause blemishes.

6. Apply a small amount of pure aloe vera gel under your eyes and around your mouth, 2-3 times a week before going to bed. It can provide critical moisture to the skin and keep skin supple and smooth, while providing anti-inflammatory effects that help decrease your chance of puffy eyes or dark circles.

7. Get rid of stressors. Have you ever noticed extra blemishes when you’re stressed? Anxiety has a damaging effect on all organs, including your skin. Stress causes a chemical response in your body that makes skin more sensitive and reactive.

8. Make cucumbers your new best friend. Yes, cucumbers can actually benefit your skin. They can be used as a natural toner or astringent due to their cooling properties, it can hydrate dull skin and act as a substitute for a moisturizer, and it can reduce the look of scars. Check out how to use cucumbers for your skin at home.

9. Exercise regularly. You know the benefits of exercise on the heart and lungs, but did you know it’s one of the keys to healthy skin? Increased blood flow from exercise nourishes skin cells, and can help flush cellular debris out of your body. Exercise can also decrease stress levels, keeping skin healthy and glowing.

10. Get enough sleep. Beauty sleep is in fact a real thing. When you’re sleep deprived, your body makes more of the stress hormone, cortisol. Elevated cortisol levels can lead to increased stress and inflammation in the body, affecting the skin. Getting a good night’s sleep every night will help to clear up your skin and keep it healthy.

11. Make a homemade face mask. No time or not enough money for a trip to the spa? No worries. You can make a homemade face mask to keep skin looking radiant using fresh and natural ingredients. Check out these 14 wrinkle-fighting, hydrating masks.

12. Use quality makeup. The makeup you’re using may be harming your skin. Buying makeup with only natural ingredients can help protect your face from harmful chemicals or clogged pores caused by some beauty products. You want to know what kind of food you’re putting into your body, right? It’s just as important to know what type of ingredients you’re using on your skin.

14. Use a clay mask to help treat acne. Clay masks have absorbent, exfoliating and astringent properties that address the root cause of acne. This especially helps those with an oily T-zone (nose, forehead and/or chin). Clay masks can absorb bacteria, water and various toxins from the skin and can exfoliate dead skin cells and blackheads without irritation.

Regularly practicing these tips will keep your skin looking healthy, radiant and blemish-free. Check out David’s Radiant Skin Elixir in the video below to get started on a path to healthy skin!

Lindsey Shaffer is a writer and editor for DavidWolfe.com and holds a B.A. in Professional Writing and Editing. She is a health and fitness enthusiast and a world traveler with a love of coffee and a passion for adventure.